| 2 | 3 | | |
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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Since its establishment in 2013, Access College |
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| 6 | 7 | | Texas has been a leader in promoting postsecondary educational |
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| 7 | 8 | | opportunities for Texans with intellectual and developmental |
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| 8 | 9 | | disabilities; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The mission of ACT is to advance the creation of |
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| 10 | 11 | | programs that support lifelong learning and vocational training |
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| 11 | 12 | | that leads to meaningful gainful employment for persons with |
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| 12 | 13 | | intellectual and developmental disabilities, to raise awareness of |
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| 13 | 14 | | existing programs, and to build a coalition of organizations that |
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| 14 | 15 | | administer or advocate for such programs; current members of ACT |
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| 15 | 16 | | include the Austin Community College STEPS program, the Houston |
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| 16 | 17 | | Community College VAST Academy, the Texas Center for Disability |
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| 17 | 18 | | Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, and The University of |
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| 18 | 19 | | Texas Informal Class program, in coordination with the College of |
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| 19 | 20 | | Natural Sciences; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Representatives of ACT have delivered presentations |
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| 21 | 22 | | at conferences and community forums throughout Texas, in addition |
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| 22 | 23 | | to addressing state agencies and committees focused on the needs of |
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| 23 | 24 | | Texans with disabilities; their determined efforts have helped |
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| 24 | 25 | | initiate the development of programs at six colleges and |
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| 25 | 26 | | universities, and they have provided guidance to lawmakers and |
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| 26 | 27 | | agencies with an interest in increasing the accessibility of |
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| 27 | 28 | | postsecondary education; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, The State of Texas gains significantly when |
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| 29 | 30 | | individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are |
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| 30 | 31 | | afforded opportunities to explore their skills and interests and |
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| 31 | 32 | | obtain competitive employment so that they can live as |
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| 32 | 33 | | independently as possible, and Access College Texas is to be |
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| 33 | 34 | | commended for its admirable work in engaging state and community |
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| 34 | 35 | | leaders around this goal; now, therefore, be it |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 36 | 37 | | Legislature hereby recognize Access College Texas for its work to |
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| 37 | 38 | | provide postsecondary educational opportunities for students with |
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| 38 | 39 | | intellectual and developmental disabilities and extend to all those |
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| 39 | 40 | | affiliated with the group sincere best wishes for the future; and, |
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| 40 | 41 | | be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for Access College Texas as an expression of high regard by |
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| 43 | 44 | | the Texas House of Representatives. |
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